A1ms_merrillta_18471126

Middlebury, Nov. 26, 1847

Dear Sir,
You are probably aware that three Pro fessorships in our College have become vacant. The chair of chemistry we do not much [—] to fill till commencement. We have elected Mr. Robbins of Andover Professor of lan- guages & tho he has not [underline] exactly [/underline] accepted I think he will do it. He has suggested, what had been conversed upon at a meeting of the board, that you should be elected Professor of Mathematics. Though I can hardly say I am authorised to pledge any body but myself & perhaps Pre. Labaree, I have no doubt you would be elected & [strikethrough] probably [/strikethrough] doubtless would [—-], if you would consent to accept the appointment. But the Board generally decline acting in such a sub- ject, except they have some [underline] arrangement [/underline] How could you not accept if appointed with a salary of $750.00, payable quarterly. And thoâ, in the low state of the Col lege funds, you would not have your salary promptly [—] quarterly, still it would be on interest from [—-] days. Dr. Labaree has been appointed Agent to collect funds and has made a beginning. We have gained much in appealing to the public, by the attempt at [—-] of Colleges. Do write soon Our corporation meets on the 1st Tuesday of December. I wish to hear from you as soon as possible as, if you decide in the negative, we may try to get into another candidate or against the distant members not to trouble themselves to come. Yours T. A. Merill

[on verso within fold] I suppose you have been rather devoted to the languages but you can succeed equally well in Mathe matics if you say so. We should be glad to have you enter in your duties near the end of January, but if [underline] very necessary [/underline] we might spare you till the first of March. If you decline, which I know is possible, what to suggest a name or names.

[addressed to] William H Parker Eq Principle of Potsdam Academy Potsdam New York